Page 6 of Wolf Crowned

I dug it out of my pants pocket and glanced at the caller ID. I didn’t recognize the number. I flipped the screen around so Lincoln could see.

He shrugged. “Not sure. Answer it.”

I swiped my finger across the screen and hit the speaker button. “Hello?”

“Hello. Is this Alpha Sloane?”

I didn’t recognize the voice. It was masculine, and it sounded like an alpha at least to my ears. It commanded attention.

I stood taller, stiffening my spine. “It is. Can I ask who is calling?”

I shared a look with Lincoln before shrugging my shoulders.

“Alpha Sloane, my name is Isaac Harrington. I was good friends with Charles Denning. His son, Leo, reached out to me a few days ago and told me what happened.” He exhaled loud enough to make the phone crackle.

I opened my mouth, but said nothing. What was I supposed to say? Thankfully, my lack of words didn’t matter.

“Charles and I grew up together. My wife is actually Charles’s sister.” He let out a long breath. “When she heard what happened to her brother and nephews, well, she was upset to say the least. We’ve heard rumblings about Pack Wolf Blood the past few months, but unfortunately we waited until now to do something.” He sighed again. “A regret I hope to make up for.”

I put a hand on my chest and held my breath as I met Lincoln’s gaze. His brows knitted together, and he motioned to the phone.

I licked my lips. “I’m sorry for your loss, Alpha Isaac. Charles Denning seemed like a good man and Leo has become a valuable member to my pack.”

Even if Alpha Charles had potentially sold us out in the end, I guess I couldn’t blame him too much for trying to protect his family. That’s all I wanted to do too after all.

Isaac made a noise in the back of his throat. “I would like to offer you some help. I’m afraid I’m not close enough to bring my pack there like some of the other alphas, but I’ve been conferring with a few others in the Pennsylvania area and we will send some men to help assist you.”

My heart leapt into my throat, and I drew in a shaky breath. I gripped the phone so tight I worried it might crumple. “That would be very helpful. We, of course, would appreciate any help that you can give.” This was it. This was our turning point. I swallowed down the excitement bubbling up. “We are doing our best to make sure that we stop Alpha Dane and his pack before he travels further east.”

The phone crackled. “Yes, all the alphas I’ve spoken to are quite concerned. We’ve seen chatter on the DarkSide website from other alphas and packs. The community is growing quite alarmed and there are talks of more packs joining the fight to assist you.”

I rubbed my hand over my chest and glanced at Lincoln who nodded for me to continue. “I am happy to accept any enforcer that you can send and truly appreciate it. We will protect them like any other members of our pack.”

If word was getting out on Lincoln’s website, then maybe more alphas would reach out too.

Please, Luna, please help us.

He hummed. “I have already planned for some of my men and the others to make their way there.”

I suppressed a giddy squeal. This was good news. I clamped down on the inside of my cheek and counted to three to keep myself in check and not get overly excited.

Alpha Isaac was quiet for a moment, and all I could hear was his breathing before he continued. “The only thing I ask is that you send the men back to their respective packs once the war has finished.”

That was something I could do easily. “Of course. I wouldn’t want to keep anyone from their home. That’s why we’re fighting Alpha Dane, to make sure that we have the freedom to choose our own packs and path. No one should rule with tyranny.”

He made a mmhmm sound. “I didn’t know your father, Alpha Sloane, but I heard good things about him, and it appears he did a good job raising you to take his place.”

A lump formed in my throat. I blinked rapidly. Darrin was the one who should’ve been alpha. I was the second hand fill in and winging it as I went.

I only hoped I was making Dad proud. “Thank you. He, like so many others, was taken well before their time.”

I chewed on my lower lip as I wrestled with what to say next. “May I ask when I can expect your men and how many so we can prepare?”

There was still the issue of lodging, but I couldn’t turn men away.

“There will be a total of seventy-five men, and they’ll be leaving later this afternoon. It’ll probably take them a few days to drive there,” Isaac said.

I blew out of breath. That was a lot of guys, but with that many more people we could move even faster with our rebuilding, and we’d be better prepared for when we took the fight to Alpha Dane.

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